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This article appeared in the June 25, 2003, edition of the West Seattle Herald "I decided I wanted to fight," she says, "and I had a 90 percent chance of beating the disease if I underwent chemo." Surprisingly, Koler found she was able to avoid the debilitating side effects that often accompany chemotherapy by combining her medical cancer treatment with complementary therapies - naturopathy, vitamins, Chinese herbs, acupuncture and massage. An active West Seattle community member for more than 20 years and founder of West Seattle KidsTheatre, Koler had always been open to the idea of natural medicine and complementary treatments. But it was only when she learned she had cancer that she carefully explored the idea. "A friend of mine gave me a book-"How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine"-that had been co-authored by Dr. Paul Reilly, one of the naturopaths at Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center," Koler recalls. "I liked what I learned about combining medical oncology with natural treatments."
"Acupuncture was incredible in taking away the nausea and other side effects of the chemotherapy," Koler says. "I had massages twice a week that helped me manage the muscle pain caused by some of the chemotherapy drugs." Her care team also included a naturopath who specialized in cancer treatment. He prescribed vitamins and Chinese herbs, which increased her energy level and fought the fatigue that accompanies even low-dose chemotherapy. When she had trouble sleeping, the naturopath gave her tryptophan - the sleep-inducing amino acid found in turkey. She also made a few dietary changes, eating more fruits and vegetables and cutting out sugar. "Everybody at the Center works together. They are all conferring with each other and all know the latest research on cancer," Koler explains. "And, you can see everyone on the same day. I'd get an IV for chemotherapy and, a half hour later, go down the hall for a massage. "Cancer challenges you on every level - physically, emotionally and spiritually - so you feel like a warrior," she adds. "Fortunately, while my enemy was a very real bully and would have killed me if I hadn't done anything, I was able to fight with a variety of weapons that I believe will make a real difference in my survival." Because of the demands of running a theatre company, Koler stepped down as director of West Seattle KidsTheatre when she was diagnosed with cancer, but she continues to work a few hours a week at the Fauntleroy YMCA. She has completed her chemotherapy and has an excellent prognosis to remain cancer-free. "When you're diagnosed with cancer, you have to assess your life and what's important to you," she notes. "It's a time to make some changes and take time to heal." Throughout her treatment, Koler had "amazing support" from her friends and her family, including husband Larry, their four children and her mother-in-law. "The support has been really wonderful," she says. "Having cancer taught me how much love there is in my life." No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. |
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She made an appointment with the Center, located on Capitol Hill, and found that the facility's oncologists offered innovative low-dose chemotherapy. Also called "fractionated therapy," low-dose chemo treatments are administered weekly, unlike traditional chemo which is typically given at very high doses every three to four weeks. She also took advantage of the other therapies offered at the Center.